Rant: Weightroom Etiquette

[Swingingbunt]

Bravo to this rant. I plug into the iPod and get in and out in 60 minutes anymore. I think I picked a better gym now that I've moved, though. The idiots are definitely in the minority and the gym manager really does a good job of running off stupidity. The worst part of my gym are the people who come in there to have an hour and a half of gossip time while they "work out"...mostly women, but some guys too...the iPod has really helped that.

[sparks]

i run in to a guy who will do squats in front of the dumbell rack making it impossible to get to about 10 feet of said dumbell rack. I have stood right behind him while he is doing the squats and then step over the bar when he rests (2 or 3 minutes worth) between sets. He seems to be the type that doesn't get it rather than the type that doesn't give a damn.

[Hungary Jack]

i run in to a guy who will do squats in front of the dumbell rack making it impossible to get to about 10 feet of said dumbell rack. I have stood right behind him while he is doing the squats and then step over the bar when he rests (2 or 3 minutes worth) between sets. He seems to be the type that doesn't get it rather than the type that doesn't give a damn.

Parking in front of the dumbbell rack is particularly annoying, especially when it is to do bicep curls with anything under 30 lbs or shrugs with 25lbs.

[Swingingbunt]

i run in to a guy who will do squats in front of the dumbell rack making it impossible to get to about 10 feet of said dumbell rack. I have stood right behind him while he is doing the squats and then step over the bar when he rests (2 or 3 minutes worth) between sets. He seems to be the type that doesn't get it rather than the type that doesn't give a damn.

Parking in front of the dumbbell rack is particularly annoying, especially when it is to do bicep curls with anything under 30 lbs or shrugs with 25lbs.

I'm the guy curling and shrugging that little...but I don't park in front of the dumbbell rack. Rehabbing a bad shoulder sucks ass.

[Hungary Jack]

i run in to a guy who will do squats in front of the dumbell rack making it impossible to get to about 10 feet of said dumbell rack. I have stood right behind him while he is doing the squats and then step over the bar when he rests (2 or 3 minutes worth) between sets. He seems to be the type that doesn't get it rather than the type that doesn't give a damn.

Parking in front of the dumbbell rack is particularly annoying, especially when it is to do bicep curls with anything under 30 lbs or shrugs with 25lbs.

I'm the guy curling and shrugging that little...but I don't park in front of the dumbbell rack. Rehabbing a bad shoulder sucks ass.

I know how that goes. Trying using the stretchy surgical tubes for overhead presses, front raises, and internal/external rotations. Much better than free weights for rehab.

[jim]

You can all rant but one or another of you mother [expletive] is guilty.

Not me. I do sweat like a beast but I always wipe my machine/seat when I'm done.

I also like the guys who have to scream when they lift. Helps me get through my workout.

I'm not guilty either. I sweat alot too - I actually dress to make myself sweat and keep the muscles warm. I don't screw around either, I work.

This week has been jam packed at my palce with vacation and all. Bikes were all used up, well one was empty but there was a magazine, mp3, glass case, and a towel. I started doing other stuff, probably 10 minutes later still nobody on it. So I ask the guy next to me who says he hasn't seen anyone around, so I move his [expletive]. Before i can even get the [expletive] off the bike this 45 year old book worm douchebag comes up to me all upset that I'm touching his [expletive]. [expletive] you buddy. I just told him that it's too crowded to reserve a bike and I am going to use it, end of story.

He actually seemed pissed. I actually wanted to kick his ass.

[Swingingbunt]

i run in to a guy who will do squats in front of the dumbell rack making it impossible to get to about 10 feet of said dumbell rack. I have stood right behind him while he is doing the squats and then step over the bar when he rests (2 or 3 minutes worth) between sets. He seems to be the type that doesn't get it rather than the type that doesn't give a damn.

Parking in front of the dumbbell rack is particularly annoying, especially when it is to do bicep curls with anything under 30 lbs or shrugs with 25lbs.

I'm the guy curling and shrugging that little...but I don't park in front of the dumbbell rack. Rehabbing a bad shoulder sucks ass.

I know how that goes. Trying using the stretchy surgical tubes for overhead presses, front raises, and internal/external rotations. Much better than free weights for rehab.

I actually went through that last year while going to the chiropractor, it was pretty cool to feel the increase in flexibility and strength. Problem was, after I moved, I didn't continue working out...so now I've had to start over. I like doing the shoulder dislocations too. They're pretty wicked and really help mobility.

[jim]

Bravo to this rant. I plug into the iPod and get in and out in 60 minutes anymore. I think I picked a better gym now that I've moved, though. The idiots are definitely in the minority and the gym manager really does a good job of running off stupidity. The worst part of my gym are the people who come in there to have an hour and a half of gossip time while they "work out"...mostly women, but some guys too...the iPod has really helped that.

That's my place .. at least at the hours I was keeping this week. Normally I go before work where it's not like that. But 9-10 this week was amateur hour. I've come to just completely hate and detest upper middle class privileged white suburbia. Put your [expletive] on a bike and expect it to be there while you are off talking to your golf buddy. And then get snooty with me when I move your [expletive].

[vinsanity]

I think anyone who has been to a gym with half a brain agrees with most of this rant.

The [expletive] who curl half a step from the dumbbell racks to check themselves in the mirror? Really? You can't take 2 steps back for someone to grab weights when you're done?

Poor form does kind of bug me. Especially if you're working out with someone else and correcting them on theirs. But there are a couple of complaints here I wanted to respond to.

WTF - 6 sets on one machine! branch out a bit - [expletive].

I sorta do this. I always do 3-4 "warmup sets". I work each muscle group once a lift, so if it's a machine I do a set of 4-6 to check the seat position etc, make sure it feels right. Then I add some weight to warmup, add a little more, then get to my working set for 3. Now, this whole process takes at most 10-12 minutes per machine/lift - but that seems reasonable to me.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the drama queen douche nozzles who yell out and drop their weights on the floor.

I definitely hate the grunters/screamers, if you're exhaling and struggling to get a weight up (you should be) an occasional 'struggling' groan doesn't bug me. And if you're dropping the weights as soon as you finish a rep - it's too much. Part of a proper rep is the negative and returning to the 'relaxed' position - if you can't hold it in the relaxed position after it's too much weight - unless you're doing stretches. I use DB's to do some chest stretches at the end of my reps (3 times every two weeks), and since I'm not doing reps, the only real way to drop the weight is to 'drop' it. But it's from 6" off the ground.

I basically have 3 rules at the gym (to not piss me off):
1. Be there to actually work/better yourself. - This includes the [expletive] who only curl, spend more time looking at themselves/talking to others than working.
2. Have some concern proper form/moderately intelligent workout. - This goes in to the grunting/dropping weights/only doing bench/curls.
3. If you have a question...ask. Most who have half a knowledge of working out/gym etiquette won't judge your program/weights if you aren't a dick or doing really stupid stuff (in my experience anyway).

[Freed Roger]

Poor form does kind of bug me.

In and of itself, poor form is ok-free to do what they want. Problem is "poor form guy" is almost always responsible for the host of other grievances aired in this thread.

WTF - 6 sets on one machine! branch out a bit - [expletive].

I sorta do this. ..... Now, this whole process takes at most 10-12 minutes per machine/lift - but that seems reasonable to me.

Ten to twelve minutes seems ok -especially for rack em up -free weights. Its not my style anymore, I veer towards a short-rest circuit workout - which gets sabotaged by "half-hour straight per machine -super isolater workouts."

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the drama queen douche nozzles who yell out and drop their weights on the floor.

That wasn't my quote, but yes -if its loud enough to be heard through the earphones, then cut down your steroid dosage.